Casing and lamp-socket for portable electric lamps.



No. 650,4l8. Patented May 29, I900. 0. P. PERRY.

CASING AND LAMP SOCKET FOR PORTABLE ELECTRIC LAMPS.

(Application flied Apr. 28 1899.) (No Model.)

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I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID P. PERRY, on CHICAGO, ILLINOTS.

CASING AND LAMP-SOCKET FO R PORTABLE ELECTRIC LAMPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 650,418, dated May 29, 1900.

Application filed April 28, 1899. Serial No. 714,927. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, DAVID P. PERRY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvementin Casings and Lamp-Sockets for Portable Electric Lamps, (Case No. 2,) of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to a casin g and lampsoeket for portable electric lamps, and has for its object the provision of a compact and satisfactory receptacle for miniature electric lamps when employed upon vehicles.

The common application of my said improvement is in connection with bicycles which are provided with a small battery for generating current to light the lamp, in which connection I will now describe myiuvention.

The said device may be briefly designated as consisting of separable base-receiving and key-socket portions of novel construction, the former being attached to a glass-inclosed reflector part, while the latter is mounted within a shell adapted to receive said reflector part.

My invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, whereiu Figure 1 is a side elevation of a lamp-casing embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a tertical sectional view on line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a similar view taken at right angles to that of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view, in cross-section, of the key-socket. Fig. 5 is a similar view of the lamp-base socket and reflector, and Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view on line 6 6 of Fig. 5.

The same letters of reference are used to designate like parts in each of the several figures of the drawings.

Within the metallic shell to a key-socket b of peculiar construction is mounted by means of screws inserted at the back of the casing, the controlling knob or key of said socket extending rearwardly through the casing, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. Connected with the knob c is a metallic plunger 0, yieldingly maintained in'its forward position, as shown in Fig. 4, by means of a spring 0 mounted The forward end of said plunger is thereon.

flattened and bored to receive a plug 0 of insulating material. This extended end of the plunger 0 extends within the screw-threaded opening of the base between two parallel springs b b. The terminals of the battery or other source of electricity are connected, respectively, with the said springs and the screw-threaded metallic portion 1) of the base, between which the plunger is adapted to establish electrical circuit when rotated to secure the engagement of the edges of the plunger with the coactin g springs 2').

Circuit may be traced from one pole of the battery through its insulated conductor to spring I), plunger 0, through the lamp, adj ustable sleeve g, extension g, contact-making base I), and by the remaining conductor to the other pole of the battery. When the knob c is turned, however, circuit is interrupted between springs b and plunger 0 by the insulation 0 serving to cut otf the current from the lamp.

A spherical lug attached at the lower portion of the shell to is adapted to be embraced by a spring-clamp 6, wherein the device may be readily adjusted to any desired position and secured in such position upon the bicycle or other vehicle, as shown in Fig. 1, by turning the thumb-screw e.

The lamp f is screwed into a split sleeve 9, its terminals engaging, respectively, the interior of said sleeve and a pin g, mounted in insulating material and screwed into the rear of the said sleeve. The split sleeve is then adjusted within the tubular rearWardly-extending portion g of the inclosing casing h by means of a set-screw h. ished interior surface is provided within the casing h, which serves as a reflector, and by means of the adjustment secured by thus mounting the lamp within a movable split sleeve said lamp may be focused within the reflector.

A glass disk i, secured in place by means of an annular wire '5 closes the lamp-casing h, which may be screwed into position within the base, as shown in Fig. 3,by the exterior threads provided upon the tubular extension 9. When thus placed in position, the circuit through the lamp may be controlled by rotating the key or knob c.

In connection with my improved lamp I A highly-pol IOC preferably employ a storage battery, described and claimed in my application for United States Letters Patent, Serial No. 714,926, filed April 28, 1899, the casing of which is provided with knob-like terminals, Whereon the buttons or Washers j, mounted at the ends of flexible cords connected with the base, are adapted to be snapped in position and establish electrical circuit between the lamp and battery.

With the improved construction herein shown and described it will be seen that the several parts are compact and serviceable, although necessarily of small dimensions and light weight to adapt the lamp for the use indicated. My improved key=socket herein illustrated and described is designed continuously to maintain contact with the base of the lamp in spite of intermittent jarring or vibration to which the same may be subjected, since the spring a forces the plunger for- .ward into engagement with the pin g, connected with the central terminal of the lampbase, This also subserves the purpose of permitting the lamp to be accurately focused within its reflector-casing without altering the base in any way, since the plunger adj usts itself to any position in which the lamp may be placed. It will be apparent that such focusing of an electric lamp is very desirable, inasmuch as the lamp is necessarily of small size, and consequently such adjustment, permitting its most efficient disposition Within the reflector, greatly increases its utility.

By reason of the use of an adjustable interiorly-threaded sleeve for receiving the lampbase no special form of lamp is required, and the ordinary miniature incandescent lamp now on the market may be instantly inserted within or removed from the sleeve, as required. Since the reflector portion is merely screwed into the receiving-base, it may be easily removed for the purpose of cleaning or repair without detaching the entire lamp from the bicycle.

The employment of an inclosing shell CL serves entirely to protect the electrically-energized parts from short-circuiting and excludes dirt and moisture. Furthermore, all

portions of the lamp socket and casing are readily accessible by employing the removable lamp-casing h, which closely fits within the forward portion of the shell a.

Numerous modifications may be made in the precise form of apparatus herein shown and described Without departing from the spirit of my invention; but,

Having set forth one embodiment of my said invention, I claim,- and desire to secure by these Letters Patent, the following:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination with a socket or base adapted to establish contact with one terminal of the lamp, of a key or switch consisting of a longitudinally-movable plunger or part c"adapted to establish connection with the other terminal of the lamp, the said plunger being pro-' vided with an insulated portion adapted to electrically disconnect said plunger, and a spring yieldingly maintaining said plunger in position to maintain such circuit, substantially as described.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination with a removable reflector portion, of a sleeve, a lamp inserted Within the said sleeve, means for securing the adjustment of the sleeve within the reflector portion, a contact-making base adapted to receive the said reflector portion establishing circuit with one terminal of the lamp, a longitudinally-movable plunger adapted to establish circuit with the other terminal of the lamp, and a springadapted continuously to maintain the said connection, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination with an outer shell a, of a circuit-establishing base I), a removable reflector portion h, and a lamp mounted therein, the said reflector portion being adapted to be inserted within the shell or and establish electrical connection with the base, substantially as described.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination with a shell a, of a base I), a switching device, a removable reflector portion It, and a lamp f inserted therein, the said reflector portion being adapted to be inserted within the shell a and establish electrical circuit between the lamp and base, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 18th day of April, A. D. 1899.

DAVID P. PERRY.

Witnesses:

GEORGE L. CRAGG, CHARLES E. HUBERT. 

